Need To Get A New Tractor - What Do You Like or Dislike?

[katie16]

We need to get a new tractor (ugh!). We have a really old Ford tractor right now (and it died the other day). Wondering what tractors you all like (or dislike)?

[ReSomething]

We go with orange - Kubota. Get a FEL if you can, they are soooooo useful.

[CatOnLap]

search this forum for the word tractor. There have been several threads on favourite tractors since february when I got mine. Also it helps to know how much land and what you're using it for. I got the JD 2305- small estate tractor with a PTO and a loader. its perfect for our little farmette.

[AKB]

We love our small Kubota with the front end loader.

[KnKShowmom]

Love my JD 750 - 20 years and still chugging along!!

[fivehorses]

JD 3320, hydrostatic...love it.
I have an old Massey 203, and that thing is a tank. When I got my JD, I love how with just switching pedals, I go from forward to reverse, no clutch, etc. Power steering. I feel like I am driving a mercedes.

Its just the right size for me..although I would have preferred the next size up...don't ask me why, just want bigger! I have an auger, brush hog, landscape rake, and really this thing does it all for me.
I have a hilly, rocky NH farm, 25 acres. I also have a bucket, didn't even think of that since it is always on! I plow snow with my tractor too.

Oh, and of course, 4wd. Don't know what I was thinking when I bought the massey, although that was 20 years ago when money was super tight. I put chains on it for the winter.

Many of the companies have 0% financing, and that was how I bought myJD.

[poltroon]

If you're a USEF member, you can get a 23% discount on John Deere.

The right tractor for you is also a function of your local dealerships.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/ == all tractors, all the time. :D

[shakeytails]

Green is over-rated. We have an International 574 (mid 70's) and a Massey 481 that we bought new about 6 yrs ago. The International has it's quirks, but it's been a really good tractor. The Massey is a bare-bones model, but it was priced accordingly - about $18000 for a 70HP (80 on the dyno) tractor that'll do anything we need it to do. It hasn't given us a lick of trouble. The Massey dealer is less than a mile from the farm, so it was convenient as well.

[BuddyRoo]

Needs to have a front end loader and be heavy enough that you can actually USE the front end loader. LOL

Headlights. I know you wouldn't think it...but I have done a lot of mowing and such at night.

3 pt hitch for mower, brush hog, etc.

Something to consider...how far away is the nearest dealer/parts place? Will you be able to get replacement parts? A good deal isn't a good deal if you can't fix the thing once you buy it.

[SmartAlex]

My husband and I each have a Kubota, and my step-father and father also have Kubotas. Each one is a slightly different size, and all have worked out great. A front end loader is great, and some of their models have a quick disconnect so you can jack up the loader and back right out for the arms and everything in a matter of about 2 minutes. This comes in handy if you want to drop the loader to mow.
We use belly mowers, bush hogs, rottotillers, back hoe attachments, log splitters, augers... just about everything. They all get a lot of use. Because of all the tractors in the family, we are well known at the dealership, and have received good pricing and service. Finding a good dealership that is close and responsive is a huge advatage no matter what brand you go with.

A friend of ours recently bought a Deere, and I know they have some nice features too.

We prefer a hydro over the manual transmission.

[foggybok]

Kubota 3430 with FEL, hydrostatic transmission and PTO. LOVE IT!

Went with Kubota based on reputation and proximity of the dealer if we need anything....

Buried the front axle in the swamp yesterday (was not paying attention to where I was....dumb #%^&% move). But backed it right out with the 4WD. Lucky for me, or I would have never heard the end of it from my hubby.....

If the old Ford was serving you well, you might just want to replace with the same...If you think you need an upgrade, write down your requirements and what you will really do with it.....

[secretariat]

I've owned Ford (New Holland) tractors, trucks, and cars for about 100 years, so I'm blue throughout. Kubotas are excellent, would be proud to own orange and I'd probably kill for green (JD) but I can't afford them (yet). If you're buying used, stay with these three names. If you're going new, buy the dealer.

[Tom King]

Must haves: Front End Loader, Telescopic drag links (called different things by different manufacturers but make hitching safer and easier), and power reverser (also called different things-you change from forward to reverse with your little left finger with a lever beside the steering wheel)

I'll stick with Green.

[Nes]

I have dreams of kubotas...

It really depends on the size of you're property though :D Depending on where you are I'd try to pick up another oldy-but-goody at a local auction.

[Bluey]

Green is over-rated. We have an International 574 (mid 70's) and a Massey 481 that we bought new about 6 yrs ago. The International has it's quirks, but it's been a really good tractor. The Massey is a bare-bones model, but it was priced accordingly - about $18000 for a 70HP (80 on the dyno) tractor that'll do anything we need it to do. It hasn't given us a lick of trouble. The Massey dealer is less than a mile from the farm, so it was convenient as well.

No, green is not overrated, it is the best, but you may not need the best.
Green also has no frill tractors and those are very competitive with prices of the other brands any more, they were listening to their customers on that.
Green also has many rebates, that help even the score if not beat it, so shop around if you have a choice of good dealers of several brands close to you.

We have green because that is by far our closest dealer and shop, so no contest there.

If we had some others close, if we needed a tractor or other farm equipment, we would check them out.

One advantage of green is that it has the highest resell value, if that is a concern for you, you don't use a tractor until it's wheels fall off.;)

[equinelaw]

I love my JD, but I do not love the only place to get it serviced it a 50 mile radius. My JD sat unused for 9 months because they could not fix it. When they hired a new service manager he figured out one valve was stuck closed, but if not for him I would have had a very expensive green planter. They just gave up fixing it and yet I am still paying off the repair bills.

So my vote is to ask around about the places where you will need to get your tractor serviced since any brand is only as good as the mechanics you can hire. I was paying about $40 an hour to use my tractor for the last year before it died. I'd get an hour or two out of it before it was back to the shop for more new parts it did not need. Another brand and I would have used another service company and been able to mow my grass.

If you are a DIY mechanic then I would say my JD is very hardy and tough. Its just not something I can fix myself so WHO I buy from is just as important as what I buy.

[MistyBlue]

If you're a USEF member, you can get a 23% discount on John Deere.
Whoa the USEF discount is that much??? :eek: For some reason I though it was 10%.
Huh...that's a good deal off on a great product. Although it does make me wonder just *how* much they're marking those up in the first place. :winkgrin:

I have a 2004 New Holland 33DA. Hydrostatic, 33 hp, diesel, 4x4, front end loader and rear PTO. Love love love 90% of the tractor. (hate the location of the fuel filter...seriously so they think octopi work on these things?) However...I hate, hate, hate the dealership/manufactorer for service. Hate it. With a passion.
They triple charge you for everything and often refuse to let you buy parts to insist it has to be repaied by them. Including a $150 pick up fee and $90 an hour labor. :eek:
They ordered parts for me after arguing with them (A flipping battery and a fuse, a monkey can put those things in) and then called to tell me they were in. I told them I'd be over the next day to pick them up and they said they'd drop it off since a salesman lived right near me. I asked if there was a charge for dropping off and insisted on coming to pick it up.
That nigt a saleman stopped by my house with the parts, told me there wasn't a fee since he offered anyways and I had refused the service.
I got a $90 bill for just the drop off and they refused to drop the fee. They charge $38 for a fuel filter, Carquest orders me the same filter for $4. Needless to say I never ever use the dealership for a damned thing anymore.
But other than the dealership being a pita...the tractor itself is wonderful and as easy to drive and handle as a golfcart. We jokingly refer to this model as the Horse Lady Model...big enough for decent work but not huge, easy as pie to drive and handle, simple maintainance and repairs on it except for the fuel filter location (but now I have a fuel filter wrench ha!) and handy as heck. The front loader on mine can lift 1000 lbs so decent sized. The 4x4 helps a ton with getting out of the manure pile and removing snow. (I have hills in my driveway, no sliding with it) For icy weather you'll want tire chains though. And when the F250 got stuck axel deep in mud the NH popped the truck out and hauled it up a hill like there was nothing back there.

[Bluey]

I hope that engineers that design machinery, when they die, go to a special place where they have to spend eternity working on the machinery they designed.:winkgrin:

[MistyBlue]

LMAO...and that the people who buy the machinery that they designed get to choose that place. :D

[Go Fish]

If it starts, I like it...:lol:

[feather river]

If you're a USEF member, you can get a 23% discount on John Deere.

The right tractor for you is also a function of your local dealerships.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/ == all tractors, all the time. :D

this discount only applies to their really big tractors. that program is a bit of a sham in my opinion--highly misleading advertising.

I have a New Holland. Had an older Ford. Liked it but after 20 years passed it on to my son. I wanted more horsepower. He recently sold it and bought a Kubota. But he does contracting work, so how you use a tractor makes a difference. Drove the Kubota and the JD, and didn't like the 'feel' of either--very subtle differences. Buying a tractor is like buying a car. Go look at them but drive them around the dealer's lot.

What I did not like about the Kubota was that its body felt 'light'--can't explain it. And it had the shifters in the middle on the floor--makes it hard when you have to get on and off a lot to do things like throwing feed to horses or going stall to stall and mucking. I leased one for a couple of months so I had a pretty good feel of it.

I saw that USEF ad about the discount on the JD and went to their local dealership. What I did not like about the JD was the way the front end felt--can't explain that, but it felt heavier on the rear and lighter on the front when I drove it--i just didn't like the balance or feel as secure as on the New Holland or Kubota.

Model for model, prices aren't much different. Most of the good ones are made in Japan, if that matters.

[camohn]

We need to get a new tractor (ugh!). We have a really old Ford tractor right now (and it died the other day). Wondering what tractors you all like (or dislike)?

OUr Kubota was bought used and is going strong 11 years later. We went Kubota since it was just as nice a tractor for a lot less money than a JD. Farm must haves are a PTO and a bucket!

[Tamara in TN]

We need to get a new tractor (ugh!). We have a really old Ford tractor right now (and it died the other day). Wondering what tractors you all like (or dislike)?

anything in the John Deere 6000 series.....

best

[Tamara in TN]

[QUOTE=Bluey;4103208]No, green is not overrated, it is the best, but you may not need the best.

yep...when your mortage payment depends on it...Green is how you roll......;)


best